Lecture 3 – Mammalian Diversity: Mesozoic Mammals & Monotremes (Lou et al., 2015. PNAS, e7101-e7109) Node “a” is the commonly used crown-clade definition. Node labeled “b” indicates our (stable) clade-based definition of Mammalia.

We’ll look first at the Morganucodontids. Luo et al. (2015). We’ll look first at the Morganucodontids. From the latest Triassic and early Jurassic. Morganucodontids

Best know from the genus Morganucodon. Small – The skull length was around 3 cm and total length around 10 cm. Skull had large nasal cavity. Respiratory turbinates were present. Well-developed inner ear region. Very large eye sockets Primitive limb girdles.

Best known from the genus Morganucodon. Cheek teeth had three cusps Dentary was greatly expanded. Articular was small and still present. Alternate-side chewing. The angular was on mandible Insectivorous.

Luo et al. (2015). We’ll next look at the Haramiyidans.

Haramiyidans First appear ~220 MYA & persisted for ~80 MY. Chisel-like incisors and a diastema (gap between incisors and cheek teeth) - Herbivorous First appear ~220 MYA & persisted for ~80 MY. Retained a single ear ossicle (stapes). Quite diverse and many were arboreal and squirrel-like.

Ausktribosphenos Bishops Early Cretaceous (~115 MYA) – Have eutherian-like tribosphenic molars.

Actually, these are related to Monotremes, implying Australosphenida Actually, these are related to Monotremes, implying a dual origin for bifunctional teeth. Australosphenida

We’ll next look at the Triconodonts. Luo et al. (2015). We’ll next look at the Triconodonts. Triconodonts

Triconodonts Teeth similar to Morganucodontids but cusps are linearized. Mammalian pectoral girdle. Pelvic girdle is still ancestral. Had a very sprawling posture. Great example of mosaic evolution.

Triconodonts Repenomamus. About a meter long, and probably was carnivorous. Derived pectoral girdle & ancestral pelvic girdle. Hu et al. (2005, Science, 433:139.).

Multituberculates “Rodents of the Mesozoic” (Luo et al. 2015)

Multituberculates Diverse and persistent group Date from upper Jurassic, span Cretaceous-Tertiary, & coextisted with modern mammals Mouse-sized to marmot-sized Named for unique dentition Chisel-like incisors Large diastema Complex, grinding molars (source of name)

Multituberculates There’s controversy in the literature, but they probably retained the ancestral sprawling posture (Keilan-Jaworowska & Hurum 2006). Retained primitive pectoral and pelvic girdles. There’s good evidence that at lest some of the multituberculates were arboreal. Their diversification coincides with the early Cretaceous diversification of flowering plants (angiosperms).

Hadrocodium 195 MYA Three ear ossicles.

Hadrocodium This pushes the date for the origin of mammals back.

Luo et al. Nature 476, 442-445 (2011) doi:10.1038/nature10291 Juramaia sinensis The oldest eutherian (placental mammal) ~ 160 MYA Luo et al. Nature 476, 442-445 (2011) doi:10.1038/nature10291

In last several years, more diversity has been discovered among Mesozoic mammals. Luo (2007. Nature, 450:1011)

Monotremes – egg-laying mammals. Order - Monotremata: ‘One hole’ Cloaca (sewer) - single opening for unrinary, digestive, & reproductive tracts. Earliest fossils from Cretaceous (>120 MYA, record poor, but increasing)

Monotremes – Mosaic of primitive and derived characters. Primitive Characters Cloaca Skull characters - possess pre- and post frontal bones. - no auditory bulla - lacrimal bones absent Pectoral girdle Epipubic bones. Cervical ribs.

Monotremes – Mosaic of primitive and derived characters. Primitive Characters Reproductive characters - oviparous - eggs have huge amount of yolk relative to therians - eggs are shelled - have a shell gland - mammary glands have separate openings, no nipple, and young lap milk from tufts of fur rather than suckling. - male lacks a scrotum, and testes remain in the abdominal cavity. - males lack seminal vessicles

Monotremes – Mosaic of primitive and derived characters. Leathery bill or beak. Venom Raspy pads instead of teeth (as adults). Electroreceptors in bill of platypuses Echidnas have spines.

Order Monotremata, Family Tachyglossidae Tachyglossus - short-beaked echidna Zaglossus - long-beaked echidna

Order Monotremata, Family Ornithorhynchidae Ornithorhynchus - platypus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btUGDQXMoqY